| The Village Of Spring Mills |
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While Highland Township boasts numerous lakes, it has only one major stream, i.e., Pettibone Creek. As this meanders south through the east part of Section 22 its flow and "fall" (i.e., change in elevation) is enough that, if dammed, it can provide two "water powers" or sites for water-powered mills. Since even a single mill was an important center of commerce in the early 19th century, the surrounding area would also make a good site for a village or town. So it was that, in 1846, Jonas G. Potter and Major F. Lockwood built a saw-mill on the south or "lower" water power along Pettibone Creek, near what is now the northeast corner of East Livingston and Harvey Lake Roads. That same year they also platted what they called "The Village of Highland" along the west bank of the stream, centered at the intersection of Harvey Lake and Spring Mills Roads. Houses and shops were soon built and, in 1856, Lockwood constructed a grist mill on the north or "upper" water power near what is now the northeast corner of M-59 and Harvey Lake Roads. By 1857 the community had grown sufficiently to warrent establishment of a post office. Since there was already a "Highland Post Office" at West Highland, however, the post office in "The Village of Highland" was named "Spring Mills," which in time became the name used for the community as a whole. Seen below is a map of "Highland - Spring Mills P.O." taken from the 1872 Atlas of Oakland County, Michigan, F. W. Beers & Co.
